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Can't get used to "gritty" keys

C

CaptSaltyJack

macrumors 6502
Original poster
I dunno if I'm the only one, but I can't get used to the MacBook Pro's keys. They feel "gritty" to me, almost like a chalkboard. I hope if they do indeed redesign the MBPs this summer, that they opt for smoother keys like on every other laptop out there.
 
I actual like the keys on MBP, i just used my friends and it didn't feel like gitty to me. bring it to the apple store and ask them about it.
 
keep using it and it'll be smooth. I personally like the gritty feel cause that makes it feel "new".
 
CaptSaltyJack said:
I dunno if I'm the only one, but I can't get used to the MacBook Pro's keys. They feel "gritty" to me, almost like a chalkboard. I hope if they do indeed redesign the MBPs this summer, that they opt for smoother keys like on every other laptop out there.
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I think they feel gritty also and I don't like it either. It helps somewhat if you take a slightly damp sponge and rub the keys (when it's off). I think the grittiness is partially residue from the manufacturing process.
 
I had the "gritty keys" that you describe. I had so much trouble typing that my MBP was relegated mostly to desktop work with an external keyboard for the majority of its lifetime.

I couldn't fix it because I decided that I couldn't live without the computer for an extended period of time so I waited until I got a backup iBook before I was going to send in my MBP to get the keyboard replaced. So I replaced the keyboard yesterday at the Apple Store and I'm really liking this new keyboard. It's smoother (both the keys and the action) and a lot more comfortable to type on.
 
Whorehay said:
I had the "gritty keys" that you describe. I had so much trouble typing that my MBP was relegated mostly to desktop work with an external keyboard for the majority of its lifetime.

I couldn't fix it because I decided that I couldn't live without the computer for an extended period of time so I waited until I got a backup iBook before I was going to send in my MBP to get the keyboard replaced. So I replaced the keyboard yesterday at the Apple Store and I'm really liking this new keyboard. It's smoother (both the keys and the action) and a lot more comfortable to type on.
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Wait, so you sent the MBP in and they replaced the keyboard? How did that work exactly? You sent it in with a note saying "give me smooth keys"? 🙂 I mean, it's not exactly a manufacturing defect, right? I'd like to get my keys fixed too.. just not sure how to approach this with Apple.
 
MBP has the best keyboard out there in my opinion....the keys kinda cup your fingers and keep them near the middle of the key so you dont go about slipping onto another key... almost like typing on a cloud....

😛
 
I wish the keys on MBP were aluminium, not plastic... Some units' keyboards feel really cheap and unpleasant to touch... When your nails touch the keys its like touching a chalkboard 🙁

But this isnt the same on all units.
 
I'm sure if you just type on them a lot, they'll smooth out pretty quick. My old Thinkpad had shiny keys that almost had the letters worn off from heavy use, but the action was still good. My Macbook Pro has "new" feeling keys, not gritty, but definitely a little bit of texture, nothing unusual. The more I use it, the more I get used to it after the classic IBM keyboard. I find I'm hitting the caps lock key more than usual, and the normal typing position seems just a bit right of what feels natural. But, overall it's a clean design. I'd like to be able to do page up/page down/home/end with single keystrokes.

After using the Macbook Pro for a week, I have to say the trackpad is the best I've ever used on any laptop, period.
 
My MBP keyboard had the chalkboard feel when I got it, but after a few weeks of heavy typing the keys are nice and smooth the way my PowerBook's keys were.
 
Yes, that's exactly it - it feels a bit like a chalkboard. So it does go away after some heavy use.. great. 🙂 Thanks!
 
I'm still kind of on the fence with this one after more then a year with my MBP. At first I felt that the keys were too stiff and that they required to much force to properly strike. As time went on I got used to it I suppose. The keys are definitely more responsive now after some serious wear-in. Also the gritty feel you are talking about is still present but not as much as when I first got it. Sometimes I love the MBP keyboard and sometimes I don't.
 
One thing I'm trying to get used to: the poorly placed "Fn" key. I always use my left pinky to hold down the Ctrl key.. on nearly all keyboards, no prob. But Apple decided to put Fn in the lower left.. it's kinda difficult to get used to that.
 
CaptSaltyJack said:
One thing I'm trying to get used to: the poorly placed "Fn" key. I always use my left pinky to hold down the Ctrl key.. on nearly all keyboards, no prob. But Apple decided to put Fn in the lower left.. it's kinda difficult to get used to that.
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Agreed on the Function key. I really wish that I didn't have to press it to be able to use Expose or the overall view of Spaces. Other than that though, I personally think it's the best keyboard I've ever used. I can type much faster on it than any other keyboard I've tried. Granted I've been using it for about 2 years now so I've probably gotten pretty used to it, but I loved it on day 1.

I haven't felt the "gritty" problem you've felt, but again, mine is 2 years old, so they could have changed since then. I do have to say I like my MBP keyboard much more than my sister's Macbook keyboard.

I just bought a new iMac and I'm waiting on delivery, so we'll see when that arrives if that newer slim keyboard can take the prize. The keyboards in the store always felt a little funny to me, but I think it's just because you have to stand up to use them and it feels like I'm reaching down too far.
 
earnjam: I don't have to use Fn at all to use Exposé. Then again, I remapped that key to F1. F9 is just too far out of reach for me, I moved Exposé, Show Desktop, Dashboard, etc. to F1 through F4.
 
I would do that too if they didn't default to hardware functions. (screen brightness and volume control)

The only two Function keys that I don't have to hold Fn to use because of hardware default values are F11 and F12. I don't want to lose the hardware functions (except keyboard brightness, I don't ever use that), but I really want 5 keys that I can hit without holding Fn, so I can map the Expose, Spaces and Dashboard functions to them.
 
earnjam said:
I would do that too if they didn't default to hardware functions. (screen brightness and volume control)

The only two Function keys that I don't have to hold Fn to use because of hardware default values are F11 and F12. I don't want to lose the hardware functions (except keyboard brightness, I don't ever use that), but I really want 5 keys that I can hit without holding Fn, so I can map the Expose, Spaces and Dashboard functions to them.
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Thats another thing I dont like in pre-penryn MBP keyboards. Having to press Fn for some expose functions really bothers me.

Its good that on my MacBook (rev. B) F8-12 keys can be used without the Fn 🙂
 
CaptSaltyJack said:
Wait, so you sent the MBP in and they replaced the keyboard? How did that work exactly? You sent it in with a note saying "give me smooth keys"? 🙂 I mean, it's not exactly a manufacturing defect, right? I'd like to get my keys fixed too.. just not sure how to approach this with Apple.
Click to expand...

Well, there was another legit problem (keys were not responding, even when fully pressed) so they replaced it based on that. I got lucky that I didn't get another "gritty" keyboard though.
 
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